Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has provided a key update regarding when Grand Theft Auto VI began proper development. According to its most recent earnings report, GTA 6 moved into full-scale production in 2020—two years after the launch of Red Dead Redemption II in 2018.
While game development often includes years of planning and pre-production by smaller teams, the company’s reference to starting “in earnest” suggests that full development and studio-wide collaboration began at that point. This means GTA 6’s journey toward becoming a reality started later than many fans may have anticipated.
Rockstar’s Workflow and Global Collaboration
The approach to developing GTA 6 follows Rockstar’s established pattern of teamwork across multiple international studios. For over a decade, the company’s various branches have worked simultaneously on each new project, and this model appears to be in place for GTA 6 as well.
Meanwhile, Grand Theft Auto V has enjoyed a decade-long lifespan since its original 2013 release on PS3 and Xbox 360. Over the years, Rockstar added expansions and new content to GTA Online, while also bringing GTA V to newer platforms including PS4, Xbox One, PC, and eventually PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. To date, the game has sold more than 215 million copies worldwide.
GTA 6 Aims Higher Than Ever Before
During the same earnings briefing, Take-Two’s CEO Strauss Zelnick described GTA 6 as Rockstar’s most ambitious and complex release to date. He revealed that the game’s release had been shifted from late 2025 to May 2026 in order to allow the developers more time to perfect their vision.
Zelnick noted that although delays are never easy to accept, it was more important to provide Rockstar with the extra time needed to deliver an uncompromised creative experience. He fully supported the team’s choice to focus on quality over speed.
Ongoing Support Through GTA Online
Responding to the long wait for GTA 6, Zelnick pointed out that Rockstar has consistently delivered high-value content to players through Grand Theft Auto Online. He remarked that some of these updates are so extensive, they could have been considered full releases 15 years ago.
He also highlighted that this model has allowed Rockstar to effectively release “a new Grand Theft Auto” several times each year, keeping the franchise fresh and active despite the lack of a numbered sequel. A similar pattern applies to Red Dead Online, which continues to receive regular updates and has surpassed expectations in recent quarters.
Release Date and What’s Next
GTA 6 is now scheduled to launch on 26 May 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. In related news, Rockstar is reportedly working on bringing Red Dead Redemption 2 to the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, indicating the studio’s continued commitment to broadening its reach across platforms.